A sack lunch perspective

5 loaves and 2 fish

seemed so small

so ordinary

is it even worth offering?

maybe Jesus could 

eat it before He shares.

that would be worth it, right?

i’ll give it to Jesus

that will do.

and it’s so easy to stop there

To give it to Jesus and leave it there.

but would we dare to believe

God for more?

Jesus said a blessing.

Jesus broke the offering.

Then Jesus gives the offering away.

It’s not what the boy imagined

with his lunch that day.

you offer it - check 

you want God to bless it - check.

are you ready for Him to break it?

if you only knew many will be satisfied

once your offering is broken

the boy never looked 

At any sack lunch the same after that day

Whenever he saw bread 

Whenever he saw fish

Which would have been every day of his life

He saw Jesus

He saw His offering

He saw God’s  blessing

He saw their brokenness 

I take a look at my sack lunch.

I take a look at what I know is true about my life today. 

And it’s so pretty and fine like it is.

Whole

intact.

I’ve done so much to get it like this

The church

The ministry

My leadership

My family

My business

My retirement

I do think the boy

Gave thought to what he was giving up

I do think the boy

Probably hesitated, second guessed

But one thing we do know

Here’s my sack lunch

He said.

God here’s my sack lunch

at my disposal now

and Jesus taking it - 

blesses it

breaks it

and uses it to reach thousands.

you’ve been holding onto your sack lunch

you don’t think it’s that much

maybe it’s gone stale

maybe you recognize the smallness of it

But look around

everyone has a sack lunch

You’ve already broken the odds 

You’re here believing God might have a word for you

You brought your 

“Here I am, send me” obedient heart

Think about your sack lunch

What you have to offer right now

Not what you will have one day

But today, 

What is fresh in you today?

I believe for someone

What’s in your sack is your position

Position on staff

Position on a team

Position as one who has authority and leadership

Jesus wants to know if you’ll train up another in your place

God wants to use the person 

You will bring to him

Pay attention:

John 1:35-42, the event unfolds

Andrew heard and followed Jesus

The first thing Andrew did was 

Find his brother

Who was his brother?

Yes Peter

Andrew brought his brother Peter to Jesus

we never know what God 

will do with those we bring to Him

look at Peter’s life!

In the story of the boy with the sack lunch

Do you know which disciple found the boy?

One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother,

Said to Jesus,

There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish…

Andrew brought people to Jesus

And got to watch Jesus do miracles in their lives

Before his very eyes

Before their very eyes!

Maybe what’s in your sack lunch 

Is bringing people to Jesus

And watch Him do miracles.

What’s in your sack?

If you knew Jesus would use it

Would you offer it more freely?

Andrew saw Jesus do something with his brother

Surely Jesus can do something with this lunch.

I I gave my life to Jesus when i was 8. 

I told him I’d go anywhere with him when i was 12. 

I lived in a little southern town  for 13 years, 

going to the nursing home, to church, to the sports field. 

In college i went to India, Hong Kong and china. 

I got to teach teenagers how to be on mission. 

I married a pastor and we started raising our kids. 

My mission field was home but I wasn’t always happy about it. 

I wanted to be OUT

I gave God my sack lunch

My daily bread, my 4 kids, my days in the neighborhood.

Jesus told me he did that too - 

Move into the neighborhood.

God invited us as a couple and as a family

To plant a church in san francisco

A place where people from every tribe, nation, language and people live

A place where most things on your device are born

A place where Jesus is taking my fresh bread

And breaking it daily

I read a pastor’s words:

Only on earth do I have the opportunity to grow deep faith; 

when I get to heaven my faith will be entirely grown up 

as I come into unhindered communion with the King. 

Now is the chance to honor God with mature faith, 

now is the opportunity to be responsible, 

now is the only chance I will ever get 

to honor Jesus with my well developed faith. - Dr Rob Reimer 

Whisper: Jesus, I know you love me.

You gave your life for me. 

And You are just as real and alive right now 

As you were that day when the boy 

Gave you his lunch.

I’m  curious

What’s in my sack?

Will you tell me?

I’m listening to you

SELAH

As Ephesians 6 says,

Pray in the spirit

Keep alert with perseverance

That words may be given to you

To boldly proclaim the mystery of the gospel.

What’s fresh in my bag?

Alric at church last sunday

Andrew on the street this past week

Asher my son

Do you believe God speaks today?

Do you believe God can speak to you right now?

Do you believe God can whisper something to you, cause your mind to recall something,

Put something or someone on your heart

Resurrect a dream you once had

Give you courage like David and Esther

Give you vision like Nehemiah

Give you prophetic words like Ezekiel and Isaiah

Give you a ministry like Stephen and Paul

Give you a partner like Boaz and Ruth

Then let’s ask Him to speak to us

Jesus, we are listening to You

Will you speak to us by way of Your Holy Spirit

That you sent to guide us, come alongside us?

I believe someone

Feels ashamed because when you looked inside your sack

You saw stale bread

It’s been left in the bag getting hard and unused

God wants to put something fresh in your open hands right now

Let him

Have faith he will.

Maybe you want to take your sack and in an act of surrender

turn it upside down and back up again.

Jesus said a blessing.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, will you bless us? Will you make your face shine upon us and give us peace.

Jesus broke the offering.

Your body was broken for us. Thank you for the cross, Jesus. Thank you for not just loving us, but rescuing us from a life apart from you and bringing us into a life with you. We ask you to take our offering, the things or things, the gifts, experiences, time, skills, vocations, callings, resources. Here they are yours. Do what you want to with them. 

Jesus gives your offering away.

Jesus, We like what you did with the boy’s offering. Will you do that with mine?

The boy got to watch what you did with his sack lunch that day. He got to watch it go from something just for him, something personal, perhaps his mother even wrote his name on the sack! To a 5,000x gift! Will you allow me to watch you do something with my life? With my offering? I want to offer you what’s most fresh in me. 

Thank you Jesus.

Thank you for your miracles.

Thank you for our very lives.

Thank you for the lives lived around me.

Use us. Speak to us. Refresh us these 24 hours. 

Amen.